‘Sankwased!’ Is Namibia mistaking bulldozing for leadership?
OPINION
There is no doubt that minister James Sankwasa has captured the attention – and in many cases, the admiration – of the Namibian people. Nicknamed \'the Bulldozer\' during his university years in South Africa, he has become a symbol of action in a country where many feel progress is too slow, especially when it comes to fighting corruption, service delivery, and inefficiency in government.
But while the public celebrates his boldness, I believe we should take a moment to reflect on what kind of leadership we are embracing and aspiring to.
I teach leadership and ethics. From this perspective, the \'Sankwased\' leadership approach may seem effective in the short term, but it could be laying the foundation for a more dangerous political leadership culture in the long run. An autocratic leadership is a mind creation.
Let me be clear from the onset: I understand why people are drawn to Honourable Minister Sankwasa’s style of leadership. Namibia has grown tired of leaders and politicians who make promises they don’t keep, who speak in circles while the people suffer, and who hide behind committees and procedures while doing nothing. In that context, someone who cuts through the noise and takes decisive action can feel like a saviour. But that feeling can be misleading.
The verb "being Sankwased” might sound powerful, even romantic, but it also tells a deeper story of "don\'t ask questions".
Bulldozers, as Sankwasa is known, don’t consult, as he did when he dismissed the Katima Town Council.
If used carelessly, the autocratic leadership can flatten everything in their path, including things that should not be removed. In leadership, this approach often means ignoring systems, processes, institutions and consultations in favour of personal decisions and quick wins. That may solve some problems in the short term, but it undermines the very institutions that hold democracy together.
A worrying example of this was when Minister Sankwasa recently lectured the Council of Traditional Authorities in a tone that I, and hopefully many, found disrespectful.
He spoke as though these authorities report to him directly and are junior officials under his ministry rather than independent custodians of culture and tradition. This was more than just a communication misstep; it revealed a mindset. A mindset that does not respect boundaries, systems, processes, institutions or shared power. A mindset that says: “I know best, so get out of the way.”
This kind of thinking is not new in politics.
Around the world, we have seen how strongmen rise by appearing to be “men of the people”, only to later use that popularity to weaken institutions and centralise power. It often starts small: skipping procedures here and ignoring protocol there, silencing critics “for the sake of progress”.
Corruption fight a potential tool for abuse
And before long, the country finds itself ruled by one man’s will, not the rule of law.
In fact, the very fight against corruption – the one cause that has earned Sankwasa so much support – can itself become a tool for abuse when handled without accountability. If one person is allowed to act as judge, jury and executioner in the name of anti-corruption, who will question whether they are truly being fair? Who ensures that this fight is not being used selectively, to punish enemies and protect allies? This is why democratic systems matter – not because they slow things down, but because they protect us from power being abused.
It is easy to confuse action with leadership, and it is even easier to believe that a strong hand is the only way to get results. But real leadership is about more than just doing things quickly or loudly. It’s about building lasting systems that serve everyone equally. It’s about listening as much as speaking. It’s about respecting the roles and contributions of others, even when you disagree with them. True leadership is not about bulldozing ≠ it’s about building.
To those who support Minister Sankwasa, I ask this: What happens after him? What happens when the next person comes into office and uses the same unchecked powers, but not for the people’s good? By then, it may be too late to bring back the systems we allowed to be ignored. This is why we must be careful not to cheer too loudly for those who seem too eager to break the rules. Sometimes, the rules are there for a reason.
Yes, Namibia needs change. Yes, corruption must be fought and dealt with. Yes, the people deserve leaders who act with urgency. But we should not trade our democracy for allowing the popularity of one man to weaken the institutions that protect all of us. It is possible to demand results and still insist on process. It is possible to fight corruption without creating new forms of power abuse.
In the end, leadership that cannot be questioned is not leadership – it is control. And the more we celebrate the Bulldozer\'s leadership style without reflection, the closer we come to losing the very freedoms that allow us to raise these concerns in the first place.
But while the public celebrates his boldness, I believe we should take a moment to reflect on what kind of leadership we are embracing and aspiring to.
I teach leadership and ethics. From this perspective, the \'Sankwased\' leadership approach may seem effective in the short term, but it could be laying the foundation for a more dangerous political leadership culture in the long run. An autocratic leadership is a mind creation.
Let me be clear from the onset: I understand why people are drawn to Honourable Minister Sankwasa’s style of leadership. Namibia has grown tired of leaders and politicians who make promises they don’t keep, who speak in circles while the people suffer, and who hide behind committees and procedures while doing nothing. In that context, someone who cuts through the noise and takes decisive action can feel like a saviour. But that feeling can be misleading.
The verb "being Sankwased” might sound powerful, even romantic, but it also tells a deeper story of "don\'t ask questions".
Bulldozers, as Sankwasa is known, don’t consult, as he did when he dismissed the Katima Town Council.
If used carelessly, the autocratic leadership can flatten everything in their path, including things that should not be removed. In leadership, this approach often means ignoring systems, processes, institutions and consultations in favour of personal decisions and quick wins. That may solve some problems in the short term, but it undermines the very institutions that hold democracy together.
A worrying example of this was when Minister Sankwasa recently lectured the Council of Traditional Authorities in a tone that I, and hopefully many, found disrespectful.
He spoke as though these authorities report to him directly and are junior officials under his ministry rather than independent custodians of culture and tradition. This was more than just a communication misstep; it revealed a mindset. A mindset that does not respect boundaries, systems, processes, institutions or shared power. A mindset that says: “I know best, so get out of the way.”
This kind of thinking is not new in politics.
Around the world, we have seen how strongmen rise by appearing to be “men of the people”, only to later use that popularity to weaken institutions and centralise power. It often starts small: skipping procedures here and ignoring protocol there, silencing critics “for the sake of progress”.
Corruption fight a potential tool for abuse
And before long, the country finds itself ruled by one man’s will, not the rule of law.
In fact, the very fight against corruption – the one cause that has earned Sankwasa so much support – can itself become a tool for abuse when handled without accountability. If one person is allowed to act as judge, jury and executioner in the name of anti-corruption, who will question whether they are truly being fair? Who ensures that this fight is not being used selectively, to punish enemies and protect allies? This is why democratic systems matter – not because they slow things down, but because they protect us from power being abused.
It is easy to confuse action with leadership, and it is even easier to believe that a strong hand is the only way to get results. But real leadership is about more than just doing things quickly or loudly. It’s about building lasting systems that serve everyone equally. It’s about listening as much as speaking. It’s about respecting the roles and contributions of others, even when you disagree with them. True leadership is not about bulldozing ≠ it’s about building.
To those who support Minister Sankwasa, I ask this: What happens after him? What happens when the next person comes into office and uses the same unchecked powers, but not for the people’s good? By then, it may be too late to bring back the systems we allowed to be ignored. This is why we must be careful not to cheer too loudly for those who seem too eager to break the rules. Sometimes, the rules are there for a reason.
Yes, Namibia needs change. Yes, corruption must be fought and dealt with. Yes, the people deserve leaders who act with urgency. But we should not trade our democracy for allowing the popularity of one man to weaken the institutions that protect all of us. It is possible to demand results and still insist on process. It is possible to fight corruption without creating new forms of power abuse.
In the end, leadership that cannot be questioned is not leadership – it is control. And the more we celebrate the Bulldozer\'s leadership style without reflection, the closer we come to losing the very freedoms that allow us to raise these concerns in the first place.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article